Western Carolina University

funded by: Graduate Student Association

Travel Award Guidelines

*Funding is dispersed as travel reimbursement following the trip

Graduate Student Association will provide annually $2,000.00 in funding for up to 10 individual graduate students to represent Western Carolina University at regional conferences.  Travel awards are for a maximum of $200.00.  A committee including the Dean of the Graduate School and at least one officer of the Graduate Student Association will approve applications. A maximum of five awards will be dispersed each semester. 

Eligibility:
To be eligible for consideration, the student must be enrolled at WCU as a graduate student in good academic standing at the time of the application and travel.  Students are only eligible for one travel award per academic year.

Application Process:
Students must complete the Graduate Student Travel Award Application. (Word)

Send completed application to: Graduate School, 110 Camp Building, Attention: Roxane Stiles.  Students must include proof of acceptance/invitation from the sponsoring organization, if available or conference information.

Award Conditions:
Funding is available for the following in order of priority:
1. Preference will be given to graduate students entered in the paper competition for the Graduate Research Symposium.
2. Travel for an individual student to present his or her scholarly or creative work at conferences.
3. Travel for an individual student to accept an award from a professional organization or academic institution.
4. Travel for an individual student to attend academic competitions at a regional level.

Funding may only be used to cover the following costs:
• Transportation to and from the conference (airfare – receipt required or mileage - $.30 per mile)
• Lodging (receipt required)
• Conference registration fees (receipt required)

Award Follow-up:
Upon completion of the travel, the awarded student sends a one page memo to the Dean of the Graduate School, 110 Camp Building summarizing the trip partly funded by the Travel Award.

For more information, please contact:
Roxane Stiles (828-227-7398)
Graduate School and Research
110 Camp Building
Email: rstiles@wcu.edu